Isai. xxx. 7. Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their
strength is, to sit still.
NOTHING is more strongly inculcated in the Holy Scriptures than trust in God. Nothing more dishonours him than the want of it : nothing more glorifies him than its unreserved exercise. Not that it supersedes the necessity of exertion on our part : for we are to " work out our own salvation," not- withstanding we know that all our will and power to do so must proceed from Goda. Yet there are occa- sions whereon we must forbear to act, and simply wait on God to effect for us what we have no hope
a Phil. ii. 12, 13.
of effecting for ourselves. Such was the occasion before us. The Assyrian monarch was about to in- vade Judea; and the whole Jewish people were for delivering themselves from his power. This was most displeasing to God, who sent his prophet to inform them, that " the Egyptians should help in vain, and to no purpose. Therefore have I cried," says he, " con- cerning this ; Their strength is, to sit still."
The prophet, you will see, limits his assertion to that particular occasion : so that the passage requires me to shew,
I. Under what circumstances activity is called for — Certainly we are, in the general, to be " workers together with God : " more especially,
1. When we have to earn our temporal support —
[Immediately after the Fall, God imposed upon us a necessity to labour for our daily subsistence ; saying, " In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread b." He also determined what portion of our time should be given to it : " Six days shalt thou labour0." In the Gospel he has renewed his injunc- tions, in the plainest terms: "Labour with thine hands the thing that is goodd." And, " If any man will not labour neither shall he eate." Even in subordinating our temporal engage- ments to those which are spiritual, he has shewn that the tem- poral are not to be neglected. The command, " Seek ye first the kingdom of God f," implies, that the things of time and sense are to occupy an important measure of our time. And, indeed, on our exertions our temporal prosperity is made to depend : for it is " the diligent hand, and that only, that maketh richg."]
2. When any good works are to be done —
[In reference to them, a state of inactivity would be highly criminal. Our blessed Lord "went about doing good11;" and he expects that all his people should follow him in this respect : for " he has set us an example, that we should follow his steps1." Indeed, our conformity to him in this respect will constitute a very principal subject of his inquiry at the last day, and a sure ground of his decision in the day of judgment k* We are therefore instructed, expressly, " not to be weary in well-doing1," but, " by patient continuance in it, to seek for
b Gen. in. 19. c Exod. xx. 9. d Eph. iv. 28.
e 2 Thess. ill. 10. f Matt. vi. 33. s Prov. x. 4.
h Acts x. 3. j 1 Pet. ii. 21. k Matt. xxv. 34—46.
1 Gal. vi. 9.